Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps. ~Charlotte Brontë
Time for me these days is measured in garden time – the fits and starts of growth over days and weeks, never the same scene twice. The emergence of hints of green in early spring are transformed within a few weeks . . .
into a full throated chorus of rich textures and layers.
This has been a spring of extremes – days of hot weather, often over 80º F (27ºC) followed by days of bitter cold, with nighttime temperatures dropping to -20º F (-29º C), separated by a week of normal weather, and then repeated over and over throughout March and April. How anything in the garden survived is a mystery to me but also reassures me that nature is resilient beyond reckoning.
Fog arose after a February snowfall melted in sudden warm weather. 
By April, the garden had changed from gray and brown to a full spectrum of color. 
A violent wind storm in March
had unfortunate consequences for our neighbor’s house. We went to our basement to be safe but were thankfully spared any damage.
There are so many things to be done in the garden this spring. The Garden Conservancy Open Days tour on June 13 looms large on my “to do” list, pushing me to complete unfinished projects and make the garden ready for visitors. Special attention was given to the newer areas featuring native plants. 
Each autumn our township collects all the fallen leaves from the neighborhoods and creates large compost mounds that decay for 3 years. They provide a mountain of leaf mold each April, free for the residents. 
My garden guys had already loaded and spread 3 cubic yards for me but I went back a week later to get another 1/2 yard to cover more of the woodland gardens. It is the perfect mulch for native plants – it improves the soil without triggering excessive growth.
The woodland plants reveled in their new coat of leaf mold
while colorful blooms filled the sunny parts of the garden.
I was inspired to show the rate of change in the garden this year, which seemed to be captured best through video.
Wishing you a beautiful season of growth and blossoming!
All text, photos, and videos ©2026 Lynn Emberg Purse, except where noted.
composerinthegarden 
Green is a beautiful color for sure. I’m also in awe of your towns leaf mold – great benefit.
So many shades of green in spring and early summer, before the heat turns everything the same dark shade.Yes, the leaf mold resource is fantastic, I compost leaves here on the property but could never get the amount and richness of what the town provides.
What a good idea the community leaf mould is.
It is a wonderful practice, Tootlepedal – not every community does it so we consider ourselves fortunate here. And the gardens thrive with it!
A gorgeous and astonishing transformation, Lynn. Such a pleasure to view your videos, you capture the beauty and abundance of nature so well. 👏🏼
Thank you Eliza. Spring never fails to astonish me, it is fun to chronicle the changes. I’ve been away from WP for a bit, I can’t wait to see what’s happening in your garden.😊
Happy primaveral pleasures to you. Visitors on the garden tour will find much to enjoy in yours.
The quotation at the beginning of your post sent me searching for the original, which occurs at the beginning of Chapter IX in Jane Eyre:
“But the privations, or rather the hardships, of Lowood lessened.Spring drew on: she was indeed already come; the frosts of winterhad ceased; its snows were melted, its cutting winds ameliorated.My wretched feet, flayed and swollen to lameness by the sharp air ofJanuary, began to heal and subside under the gentler breathings ofApril; the nights and mornings no longer by their Canadiantemperature froze the very blood in our veins; we could now endurethe play-hour passed in the garden: sometimes on a sunny day itbegan even to be pleasant and genial, and a greenness grew overthose brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thoughtthat Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brightertraces of her steps. Flowers peeped out amongst the leaves; snow-drops, crocuses, purple auriculas, and golden-eyed pansies. OnThursday afternoons (half-holidays) we now took walks, and foundstill sweeter flowers opening by the wayside, under the hedges.”
Thank you Steve, the entire quote so perfectly describes the progression of spring. Happy primaveral pleasures to you as well, although I’m guessing that you are past spring in Austin and entering summer.
We’re in what you might call our second spring wildflower season. During the first one we typically get colonies of bluebonnets and paintbrushes and groundsel. During the latter part of spring, which is now, we’ve been enjoying great colonies of firewheels (Gaillardia) and greenthread (Thelesperma).